The Heritage of Feyenoord Kits
Feyenoord football shirts represent the working-class soul of Rotterdam and over 115 years of Dutch footballing tradition. Founded in 1908, Feyenoord has worn its distinctive red and white colours through a remarkable history including 16 Eredivisie titles, 13 KNVB Cups, and most significantly, their legendary 1970 European Cup triumph - becoming the first Dutch club to lift Europe's greatest prize. The Feyenoord shirt has been worn by Dutch football royalty including Johan Cruyff (briefly), Ruud Gullit, Pierre van Hooijdonk, Robin van Persie, and current stars like Orkun Kökçü, each contributing to the club's rich heritage.
Evolution of Feyenoord Kits
The red and white halved design has been Feyenoord's signature for decades, though earlier incarnations featured stripes and other variations. The distinctive half-and-half shirt became iconic from the 1960s onwards, making Feyenoord instantly recognisable across European football. Away kits have ranged from all-white to yellow, black, and navy designs, with recent seasons seeing bold experimental colours.
Feyenoord's kit partnerships have included major sportswear brands throughout their history. Adidas produced their shirts during the European Cup winning era and much of the 1970s-80s. Kappa brought Italian style in the 1990s and 2000s during successful domestic periods, before Adidas returned, and more recently Castore has provided cutting-edge designs that blend tradition with innovation.
Sponsors have evolved from local Rotterdam businesses to major international brands, with names like HES Beheer, AVR, and Opel becoming part of the club's visual identity across different generations. Current sponsor 1908.nl references the club's founding year, creating a nice historical connection.
Most Iconic Feyenoord Shirts
The 1969-70 Adidas European Cup winning shirt remains the holy grail of Feyenoord jerseys. The classic red and white halves with Adidas's three stripes, worn during their famous 2-1 victory over Celtic, represents Dutch football history. This kit symbolises Feyenoord at their absolute peak and is treasured by collectors of classic European football shirts.
Kappa's 1999 double-winning shirt featured a bold, clean design during Paul Bosvelt's captaincy and became synonymous with Feyenoord's late 1990s resurgence. The 2001-02 UEFA Cup winning season saw another memorable Kappa design, worn during their thrilling run to European glory.
More recently, Adidas's 2016-17 Eredivisie title-winning shirt brought back classic design elements with modern performance technology, while Castore's recent kits have pushed boundaries with striking patterns and premium fabrics.
Little-Known Facts About Feyenoord Kits
The Half-and-Half Revolutionary Design
Feyenoord's famous half red, half white shirt design was revolutionary when introduced in the 1920s - at a time when almost all football shirts featured stripes, hoops, or solid colours. The design was supposedly inspired by a local Rotterdam flag, but club historians have debunked this myth. The real story is more mundane: a kit man accidentally ordered half the shirts in red and half in white due to a miscommunication with the supplier. Rather than waste money reordering, the club decided to sew them together, creating one of football's most distinctive designs entirely by accident.
The Cruyff Forbidden Photos
Johan Cruyff famously played one season for Feyenoord (1983-84) despite being an Ajax legend - one of Dutch football's greatest betrayals. However, Cruyff had a contract with Puma while Feyenoord wore Adidas, leading to an unprecedented situation. Photos from the period show Cruyff wearing Feyenoord shirts with the Adidas stripes removed or taped over. These "stripeless" Cruyff Feyenoord shirts were never sold to the public and remain some of the rarest Dutch football collectibles. Ajax fans consider them cursed, while Feyenoord supporters see them as trophies.
The Yellow Away Kit Superstition
Feyenoord's yellow away kit has an unusual history among supporters. The club introduced bright yellow away shirts in the early 1990s, and fans noticed the team performed exceptionally well in them, particularly in away fixtures. This created a superstition that lasted decades. Even today, when the club releases a non-yellow away kit, sections of the fanbase protest, insisting yellow brings luck. Statistical analysis has shown no actual correlation, but the belief persists so strongly that the club regularly returns to yellow away kits to appease supporters.
The De Kuip Roof Pattern Hidden Design
Castore's 2022-23 home kit featured a subtle graphic pattern that most fans didn't recognise - it was actually an aerial view of the iconic De Kuip stadium roof pattern, pixelated into the fabric. The design was so subtle that even when the club announced it, supporters struggled to see it. However, under certain lighting conditions at the stadium, the pattern became visible, creating an almost holographic effect that made the shirts look different depending on where you sat in the stands.
The Van Persie Retirement Shirt Error
When Robin van Persie returned to Feyenoord for his final seasons, the club produced a special "RVP 20" retro-styled shirt for fans. However, the printing department mistakenly used the wrong red shade - matching Arsenal's red shirt rather than Feyenoord's traditional darker red. By the time anyone noticed, thousands had been sold. The club initially planned a recall but van Persie himself intervened, saying it represented his entire career journey. These "wrong red" shirts are now considered special editions and have increased in value.
The Champions League Star Debate
Unlike most European clubs that add stars for major trophy wins, Feyenoord's star above their crest represents being the first Dutch club to win the European Cup (1970). However, there's been decades-long debate about adding a second star for their 2002 UEFA Cup triumph. The club has consistently refused, insisting only the European Cup/Champions League deserves a star, making their single star one of the most meaningful in European football. This strict interpretation means even if Feyenoord won 50 more Eredivisie titles, they'd still display just one star unless they won the Champions League.
Our Feyenoord Shirt Collection & Personalisation
At UK Soccer Shop, we stock the complete range of Feyenoord football shirts including the latest home, away, and third kits alongside classic retro designs. Our collection covers adult sizes from small to XXXL, kids' kits with matching shorts and socks, and women's fitted jerseys. Every shirt is 100% authentic and officially licensed.
Personalise your Feyenoord shirt with official Eredivisie printing, adding your favourite player's name and number with authentic league patches. Our professional printing service uses the same technology as the clubs themselves.
Related Eredivisie Shirts and Dutch Football Kits
Explore our complete Eredivisie shirts collection featuring all Dutch top-flight clubs. Check out Ajax kits and PSV Eindhoven shirts for the traditional rivals, or browse AZ Alkmaar jerseys and FC Utrecht kits for other major Dutch clubs. Our Dutch football shirts category includes the national team and lower division options.